E436 - Healthier Gamers, BtB 1e Combat (ADDICT Link in Show Notes)

An episode of Tavern Chat

"I listen to the Tavern Chat podcast every morning, sometimes I think its NPR, till the F bomb drops then I remember I am in geek heaven instead!" Enjoy a daily chat with your Old School Gaming Bartender :)

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I often get asked the secrets to success with my blog and podcast. There is no secret - hard work and a long history of doing. But there are some strategies that can help in the long run (and should be instituted from the beginning.)
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Would you sign a social contract so you could game? If you need to sign a contract, binding or not, is it still a hobby?
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5512e30de4b018f9300e3a55/t/57802bb3bebafbf78186bc68/1468017592481/Downloadable+Social+Contract.pdf
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A retired Sgt in the NYPD, Joe Pabon killed himself in the early morning hours. Please, if you have suicidal thoughts, seek help. There is no shame to admitting you need help.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
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I stray away from gaming today as 9-11 is a day I'll never forget. I give my perspective as one that responded to the Towers right before they came down. Never forget.
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I read some feedback on Jason Hobbs re-releasing his Hobbs & Friends Interview with Alex Macris. The demands made by "Facebook Friends" to make the world conform to their vision simply pisses me off. No one is forced to listen to a podcast or a blogpost. The presence of such does not define your world unless you continually define your world via negativity.
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Old Man Grognard calls the show about magic item McGuffins. I talk about the influence both Dave and Gary had on D&D.
https://anchor.fm/radio-grognard
https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-dueling-essays-of-arneson-gygax.667050/
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JoeTheLawyer has a podcast episode up talking about his take on artifacts in D&D 5e. I just hate artifacts all together ;)
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JoeTheLawyer calls the show and asks for some suggestions and ideas to help players of convention games.
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I'll be running a session of Swords & Wizardry Light at ShireCon on 9/21/19 in Falls River Ct. Want to know how I run convention sessions and why I do so in the manner I do? Let's peek behind the curtain...
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Some ideas and examples of using real world history - local history in my examples - for inspiration in your RPG campaigns.
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James Raggi gives us an update on the LotfP Ref Book. Its certainly not what I expected.
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When folks say the want "no real world politics in their gaming" what they really mean is they don't want current political issues and narratives in their gaming. Oh, and I came home with a baseball last night :)

I'm heading to Citi Field to see the Mets tonight, so today's episode is releasing a bit early. Enjoy.
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You know what I dislike? When someone heavily pushes their customers to share their project on social media (because places DragonsFoot have deleted their posts.) In any case, my first impressions are not highly enthusiastic. I'll Update when I finish the 2 hr documentary.
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Today I talk about improvisation as a GM. When I feel it works best - one shots and convention play - and when it is less suitable - campaigns.
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Thank you to all who have given to Rick Loomis's Cancer Fund (and I guess burial fund). You truly are a great community. And hero humanoids. What are they good for? Adversaries, NPCs, henchman, PCs and more?
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Yep follow up on creating OSR content with a call in from Jason.
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I've had a huge spike in the TenkarsTavern.com traffic ranking over the past few weeks, but it certainly isnt because of any of my gaming content posts - which are some of my weaker trafficked posts. Is free gaming content less valued?
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It isn't often that I get choked up, but after I stopped recording this I cried. Its an emotional episode for me. Over $16k has been raised for Rick Loomis and I am so proud to be a part of this amazing community. Cancer can go fuck itself.
Rick Loomis Cancer Fund
https://www.tenkarstavern.com/2019/08/gofundme-rick-loomis-lymphatic-cancer.html
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I received an email yesterday updating the Roll20 data breach. Time to discuss.
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JoeTheLawyer calls the show FOUR TIMES to talk about urban adventures. Its like having a virtual guest ;)
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Somedays you simply need to call it is. This is one of those days.
https://www.tenkarstavern.com/2019/08/a-kickstarter-post-mortem-destination.html
https://www.tenkarstavern.com/2019/08/wayward-kickstarter-shaven-dwarf.html
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I posted a State of the Tavern Update on the blogside earlier and I mention it briefly. Then we have voicemails on the F'ed up rules episode ;)
https://www.tenkarstavern.com/2019/08/state-of-tavern-update-august-2019.html
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One of the pitches for episodes was discussing the best rule I've found in RPGs. I've decided to cover some of the worst rules I've encountered in RPGs first ;)
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There is a conversation going on that the OSR id dead. Not sure how many times we will have this discussion, but this one is better thought out than most. Still, the OSR isn't dead so much as evolved and possibly splintered. Oh, and we are giving out gifts today to Michael and Corey.
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We lost another NTRPG Con regular this week and Geek and Sundry sued by Will Weaton over share of revenue from 'Titansgrave: The Ashes of Valkana.'
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/wil-wheaton-sues-geek-sundry-web-series-profits-1229358?fbclid=IwAR3J00V-aN3_Il0u-4AKp5dgwPd4lGGtHrTZI-C7zhwN60OAnJX0HNPWt58
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Christopher Bishop calls in with a brief history and background of B4 - The Lost City (soon to be a Goodman Games re-release). Old Man Grognard Talks ENNies. Jason Hobbs re-releases The Lost Macris Interview. Woot!
Hobbs & Friends Alex Macris Episode
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Jospeh Goodman announced the next release in the Original Adventures Reincarnated line will be (B4) The Lost City, originally written by Tom Moldvay. Kind of a "deep track" if you ask me.
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So, simply smart business or poaching territory? And what is the fair rate to pay Ernie and Jim for being the main attractions?
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Pathfinder 2e Released earlier today? Can it do for Pathfinder 1e what Pathfinder 1 did for 3.5?
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We recorded nearly 20 minutes of the weekly Tavern Chat Hangout held on the Tavern's Discord Server. Enjoy and join us every Wednesday at 9 PM Eastern.
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We are at the middle of the summer, and we've hit the point of campaign suspension till September. When we were kids, summers meant D&D 5 days a week or more. As adults, we are lucky to get in 5 days for the season, with only half the group each time.
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When "apples to apples" becomes "apples to oranges", it's often because one does not want direct comparisons to be made. We haven't seen the last 4 quarters of the Roll20 Orr Report, where they discuss numbers related to games run and players using the various RPG systems supported by Roll20. The system used to give us those numbers have changed, and I speculate as to why.
https://blog.roll20.net/post/186546450860/the-orr-group-industry-report-q2-2019-back-and
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Yes, I'd like to live long and game forever. Or at least, longer than I would if I were unhealthy in my habits. Laramie has some thoughts. Tim wants to play AD&D 1e combat "by the book" and I found the PDF to assist in that - ADDICT.
http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/
http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/dmprata/ADDICT%20A4.pdf
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We have some voicemails and all voicemails are from Jason, but not the same Jason, but two are but they were called in using different methods. Follow that yet? hehe
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Tim Shorts (of the Gothridge Manor Podcast) has some thoughts on the ENnies. I give some background to the ENnies and talk about how to fi them before deciding they can't be fixed ;)
https://anchor.fm/gothridgemanor
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I give my first impressions of the Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Set, and the impressions are good! Hell, I might even find a reason to give 5e a try ;)
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I was thinking earlier today during NYC's monsoon about how we, as gamers, help other gamers on a regular basis, but could we do better? Is there a process or such that would make asking for and offering such help easier. I want your thoughts.
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There is a huge sale going on at DTRPG, and I link to it (and the OSR and S&W lists) over on the blog side.
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Today I sat down with Ben Burns of New Comet Games. Ben was the winner of the NTRPG Con 2019 Three Castles Award and currently has his Ultimate Dinosaur Fighting 2nd ed project live on Kickstarter.
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Yep, today marks three years of retirement for me, and although the month of July has been hectic with personal and family obligations, I do have plans for the summer. Revised blog and possibly a short, monthly zine.

DM Mike cals in with some thoughts on Stranger Things and I make some observations on ENWorld and its sudden lack of advertising.
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In Season 3 of Stranger Things, D&D still plays a role, but it is shown more as something of the time of childish things to be left behind. Although I talk about the place of D&D, as for the plot of Season 3, it is a spoiler free podcast ;)

Voicemails from Tim and Ivy Shorts as well as Glen Halstrom. Yes, I revisit low ability scores and controlling you own voice. Never put your integrity in the hands of others.
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Ah, sweet "I'm a gonna punch Tenkar in the f'n throat!" Gareth. He sneaks a Far West update in on his dead intothefarwest.com website. How do you control the narrative? When you force conversations into forums you control.
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Vince Florio announced today that the Roll for Initiative Podcast is coming to an end after 10 years. Gaming podcasts in general owe Vince a debt of gratitude.
http://rfipodcast.com/show/2019/07/11/the-end-of-an-era-thanks-for-all-the-fish-rfi-is-ending/
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Glen (Old Man Grognard) called the show to talk about low stats. It makes me think even more on the topic. Dangerous, I know ;)
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It seems that many (if not most) of the Kickstarters that fund but fail to deliver in a timely manner (if at all) share a common denominator - their creators often have mental health issues.
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The main Tunnels & Trolls Facebook group went dark last week, leaving hundreds of T&T fans without a home. Although there is a new group to take its place, it shows what can happen in social media if a publisher doesnt have control over its own communities.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/deluxetunnelsandtrolls/about/
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Who would really bring an Int 3 adventurer on an adventure? How would a Str 3 magic-user make the 5 mile trek to a dungeon? Oh, and a good ole' 'F U" to a jackass or two.
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An update? No way! And of course the issues mentioned would not be issues if this had only been completed in a timely fashion. Even hitting the ludicrous Jan 2019 date would have solved issues.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/lotfp-hardcover-referee-book#/
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Yep, the ENnies nominees were announced today. I make some picks and in turn, discover some interesting tools.
http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/2019-ennie-nominations/
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Found this on ENWorld: Solasta: Crown of the Magister D&D Video Game Coming To Kickstarter. Not that even the publisher links to D&D. Hmmm.
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I'm working on an adventure for use in the Tenkar's Tavern One Shot Roleplaying Group, Shire Con and Gamehole - Demonic Dungeon of the Bone Dreamer. I talk a bit about the differences between writing an adventure for yourself, convention play and for others to run. Oh, and a bit more on "drones" with a voicemail from Glen Halstrom.
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Today we have two voicemails, I talk about my definition of drones, Open d6 is now recognized at DTRPG, and Bunnies & Burrows and Far Way Land OSR have arrived!
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In today's episode I sit down with Ben Barsh of Pacesetter Games, perhaps best known for the Best Hair in the OSR ;) We talk all things gaming, gaming conventions, gaming Kickstarters & more!
Reaping at River's End for 5e and S&W RPG! Kickstarter
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E401 and 402 have generated record numbers of plays in such a short period and some amazing support has been given, but fear of the Outrage Brigade prevents folks from making such publicly.
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I argue that the OSR is more inclusive than the Gatekeepers of the "walled gardens" and "safe spaces" allow their small communities to ever be. And damn, this is a sweet gaming table!
https://ultimategametable.com/

I know what its like do deal with asshole customers (I worked retail for 8 1/2 years) I also know what it is like dealing with an angry public that makes things personal when you can't respond in kind (cop for 20 years) Is is worth 100 British Pounds to make an asshole that you've wronged go away and not fuck with you current Kickstarter? I would call that money well spent. I guess Morrus / ENWorld doesn't see it the same way.
https://www.rpgpub.com/threads/kickstarter-a-touch-more-class-is-live-and-funded-in-just-4-minutes.3144/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/enworld/rebuilding-en-world